Boston Celtics forward Al Horford was honored with the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez, and Mella by the president of the Dominican Republic.
Horford, recently celebrated for winning his first NBA championship, visited the Dominican Republic with the Larry O’Brien Trophy, becoming the first Dominican player to achieve this milestone.
The award, the highest civilian and military honor in the country, recognizes Horford’s contributions to Dominican basketball and his historic championship win.
“I knew I was going to come meet the president, but I didn’t know I was gonna get the highest award for the country,” Horford said, per Noa Dalzell. “Very overwhelmed with a lot of emotion. Very, very special day for me today.”
During the 2024 offseason, Horford transitioned to a reserve role with the arrival of Kristaps Porzingis, having started nearly every game previously.
On April 29, 2024, Porzingis’ injury in Game 4 of the playoffs against the Miami Heat paved the way for Horford to become the Celtics’ starting center.
In the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 15, Horford recorded 22 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and three steals in a 113–98 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
This performance made him the first player in NBA history to achieve 10+ rebounds, 5+ three-pointers, 5+ assists, and 3+ blocks in a playoff game.
On May 25, 2024, Horford scored 23 points with a career-high seven three-pointers in a 114–111 win over the Indiana Pacers, helping the Celtics advance to the NBA Finals.
In the 2024 NBA Finals, the Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks, securing Horford’s first NBA championship in his 186th career playoff game.
